FPGA Based Real-Time Data Processing DAQ System for the Mercury Imaging X-Ray Spectrometer

This paper presents a new DAQ system with real-time data processing capability for X-ray detector systems. The data processing algorithms are working directly on the serialised input data stream from the detector system and run in real-time on a FPGA processing system. The DAQ system includes new algorithms for dynamic adaptation of important processing parameters during a measurement. These dynamic algorithms enable better measurement precisions, autonomous system operation and avoid detector recalibration cycles. The developed and presented data processing algorithms are optimised for low memory bandwidth and hardware resource utilisation. High data reduction and live monitoring of important system parameters are achieved with the real-time processing. The concept of the new DAQ system was tested and evaluated with the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS). MIXS is an instrument on board of the ESA corner stone mission BepiColombo which will be launched 2015 into an orbit around Mercury. The 64x64 detector matrix used in the MIXS detector system for X-ray detection delivers 6000 frames per second and provides an optimal evaluation platform for the new DAQ system.